Moldova is a small country, bordering Romania and Ukraine. History has placed it at a very critical juncture. With the war in Ukraine gaining momentum and the threat of Russian aggression growing larger and larger, the stakes simply cannot get any higher for Moldova.The President, Maia Sandu, is an advocate for a pro-European agenda. She has to deal with challenges on many fronts in her endeavors to lead Moldova along a path toward stability and democratic governance.

With a pending referendum on accession to the EU, the fragile political landscape nourishes deep-seated issues of corruption, societal cleavages, and widespread influence wielded by pro-Russian sentiment. This paper puts together recent developments in Moldova with regard to its upcoming elections and referendum against the backdrop of complex political dynamics defining this Eastern European state.